Being Kylie looks easy

The latest trend in the pre-Christmas DVD is to release the previously-sidelined documentary with (what was formerly the main attraction) concert as a piece of extra bait. This package is no exception : the 'bonus' disc is a full 2 hour concert from last years "Homecoming Tour" which was, cunningly, released as a live CD earlier in the year, whilst the main lure is an allegedly warts-and-all expose of Kylie On Tour named "White Diamond".

In theory, this could have been a fascinating look into the heart of modern stardom, an essay on fame-beyond-talent, a more daring variant on In Bed With Kylie, this film exists only because the cameraman is her trusted confidant and 'gay husband'..  and thus Kylie herself finds that, given the position of the filmaker, anything truly exposing is left on the cutting room floor. Unlike Robbie Williams similar, but far more fascinating Nobody Someday, this fails to reveal Kylie. What the film shows is someone who, despite having recently battled cancer and heartbreak, just dogmatically ploughs on. 'Our Brave Kylie' keeps smiling, keeps dancing, keep working, knowing neither happiness or unhappiness, showing neither despair or even anything other than quiet tiredness, Kylie proves that above almost all things, the show must and will go on.

Kylie smiles. Kylie giggles. Kylie dances. Kylie looks a bit tired. Kylie exhibits the limited emotional range - or, if your prefer the fixed stability - of Roger Moore, without the ability to raise an eyebrow. Aside from a computer failure, the tour documented shows no daramas but is a finely honed, slick machine geared towards efficiently extracting money with immensely enjoyable vaudeville pop that merely imitates the emotions.

Ultimately, it makes Being Kylie look easy. It's the Anti-Radiohead. It fails to address the fact that Kylies fame is now a product of her being famous : the music she makes is almost irrelevant, and filiming adding shots of her fidgeting fingers does not give gravitas to a generally vacant interview. The problem with this is, I feel, that Kylie is so well trained in diversion and keeping her feelings hidden from the harsh truth of the camera eye, that it's difficult to discern if she is another other than all surface, no feeling. 

When you are in the public hour 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for 20 years, you don't have a private life : everything is public. There's no hint of even the slightest amount of self doubt (the same doubt that makes Robbie Williams far more interesting) - despite turning her weaknesses into strengths and exploiting what she has to maximum effect - Kylie seems to be marketing herself in this as a giddy, happy-to-be-here brand, a product known as Our Brave Kylie as she bravely battles on against colds, cancer, and computers. As the documentary comes to a close, Kylie finally starts to show a modicum of emotion - albeit when she has to terminate a show early due to illness - but ultimately it feels too little, too late for the viewer after two hours of relentless can-do, gung-ho optimism. This impression is hardly alleived by the endless pop of her music - aside from the brilliant Impossible Princess, Kylie has never truly made an album of any true artistic merit.

That said, if you like Kylie, you'll love this package : the documentary is as close as anyone will ever get to her - that is, "not very", and the concert disc is a worthy and thoroughly enjoyable pop thrill that acts as a sequel/remake to 2005's Showgirl DVD.

At the end of the day, if you come expecting an expose, a treatise on the nature of fame, modern celebrity, or anything of a similar nature, please remember that White Diamond has, as its core, nothing but pop music, and whilst it is some of the best pop music ever made, you cannot glean what was never there : ultimately, there is no depth, no great and amazing revelations, beause it seems that there are no secrets to be found. If you're looking for something revelatory - you won't find it. But if you're looking for an entertaining documentary on life being Kylie, then this is perfect for you.

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